| Veterinarians are reporting dogs and cats are | | | | to avoid cat-astrophes. |
| living longer – some for more than 15 years. | | | | To get the attention of pet owners a campaign |
| Dogs’ longevity is directly related to breed | | | | by the Los Angeles County District attorney |
| size. Toy breeds live longest (12-14 years). Giant | | | | featured a picture of a dog in an oven. It’s a |
| breeds live the shortest time (6-8 years). | | | | reminder that it’s against the law to leave |
| However, mixed breeds tend to live longer than | | | | animals in hot cars. A car’s interior can reach |
| pure breeds. In estimating a dog’s age 1 dog | | | | 100 degrees when it’s 72 degrees outside. |
| year equals 12 people years, 2 dog years equal | | | | Dogs have body temperatures of 101-102.5 |
| 24 people years and every dog year after that | | | | degrees. Body temperatures of 107-108 degrees |
| equals 4 people years. Thus a 12-year-old dog | | | | can cause brain damage and death. Leaving a pet |
| would be 64 people years. As for cats, any | | | | in a hot car is a misdemeanor with up to 6 |
| well-cared-for, indoor cat is likely to reach the late | | | | months in jail. If the pet dies, it’s a felony |
| teens or early twenties – counting all 9 lives. | | | | with up to 3 years in state prison. This should be |
| Unfortunately, veterinarians are also reporting | | | | dogma. |
| they are treating an increasing number of dogs | | | | And then there’s Scarlett’s Magic. She |
| that have eaten xylitol. Xylitol is in the fibers of | | | | holds the Guinness Record as the world’s |
| many fruits and vegetables – including various | | | | tallest pet cat – 17.1 inches. SM, however, |
| berries, corn husks, mushrooms and oats. It’s | | | | isn’t an ordinary housecat. She’s a F1 |
| a natural sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute, | | | | Savannah – a cross between a domesticated |
| especially in gum. Supposedly it’s good for | | | | breed and an African Serval – a medium-sized |
| teeth, diabetes, osteoporosis and infection – | | | | wild cat sharing common traits with cheetahs. |
| but it’s not good for pets. For pets it has a | | | | Although F1 Savannahs are the closest thing to |
| life-threatening toxicity that can cause liver failure. | | | | wild cats allowed as pets in most states, SM’s |
| Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting and | | | | owners say she has the “charm of a |
| a weak, wobbly appearance, requiring immediate | | | | domesticated cat”. Because cubs cost |
| treatment. Obviously, pet owners should treat | | | | $5,000-$50,000, F1 Savannah cats might not |
| xylitol-containing products with dogged attention | | | | catapult to popularity immediately. |